The following notes on some of the
early members of the Stretton family where written by Mr. William Stretton in
the year 1817:-

“The Strettons from Willis’s
Cathedrals & other works.

John de Stretton was Prior of Burton
on Trent where he died 6 July 1260; he possessed property in Land at Dunsmore
& Longdon in Staffordshire. Reginald de Stretton in 1280 at Longdon.

Adam de Stretton a Judge of Ed. I. in
1290 from ditto and others in regular succession to John in 1470 Preb. of
Lichfield. and to 1676.

Robert de Stretton Lt. D. Canon of
Lichfield was confirmed Bishop Sep. 26 and consecrated the next day 1360. He
died March 28, 1385 at Heywood and was buried in St. Andrews Oratory, in his
own Cathedral. Robert Stretton (or Stratton) was admitted Archdeacon of
Coventry Dec. 28, 1639.

The Strettons resided for centuries
at Longdon in Staffordshire, where my Grandfather (& Father) was born to good
to good property, which the former dissipated, and obliged the latter to leave
Longdon from whence he came into Notts 1750.” Dunsmore, mentioned in the first
of the above notes, is in Warwick­shire, and appears to be identical with
Dunsmore Heath, near to which is the village of Stretton-on-Dunsmore. Longdon
is about three miles north of Lichfield. As our interest in the Stretton
family is confined to the branch which was connected with Nottinghamshire for
a little more than a century we commence our notes on the family with

1. SAMUEL STRETTON, who
appears to have been born at Longdon in Staffordshire in 1731 or 1732 and to
have migrated to Lenton in Nottinghamshire in 1750, where he was married and
where all his children were baptized. He carried on the business of a builder
to Nottingham, at first on his own account, and later in partnership with his
son William, and was engaged in the many important works referred to on pages
180-182 post.
In this connection it is of interest to note that he built in Nottingham, in
1769, the first Cotton Mill erected in England.

TheNottingham Date-Book, under the year 1776, states “Colwick Hall, near
this town, was built about this period by Mr. S. Stretton, of Not­tingham,
under the direction of Mr. John Carr, of York, architect.” In the following
year Samuel Stretton built the Grand Stand on the Notting­ham Racecourse. As
this building has recently (1910) been demolished the following description of
it contained in a local newspaper of February 1st 1777 is of interest:-

“On Monday morning were begun to be
dug on the Forest, near Nottingham race-course, the foundations of a new grand
stand, and on Tuesday the first stone thereof was laid by Mr. Samuel Stretton,
builder, one of the undertakers of the said fabric. The above stand will be
built on an entire new plan, designed by that ingenious architect, John Carr,
Esq., of York, to whom, and the subscribers of so noble an edifice, it is not
to be doubted, but praise will be handed down to future generations. The above
building will extend upwards of 81 feet in the front, and in the centre
upwards of 52 feet wide; the lower story will consist of tea and card rooms, a
vestibule, and geometrical staircase, exclusive of a kitchen, bar, store
rooms, cellars, & etc.; and the upper story of a genteel room, upwards of 61feet long (breadth in proportion) ; this room is designed, not only or
entertainments, but so ordered that those ladies and gentlemen who don’t
choose to stand on the miranda or platform (which is to be supported by an
arcade below) may have an opportunity of seeing the course in every part. The
roof will have steps thereon, covered with lead, on which near 500 people may
stand at once and will, as well as the miranda or platform below, be enclosed
with a stone balustrade.”

The Nottingham Date-Book
records, under the date 1786, December 12, “A remarkable escape from death at
the premises of Mr. Wilson, bookseller, South-parade. Mr. Stretton, builder,
accidentally met a Mr. Wood, of Eastwood, and stood conversing with him on the
causeway in front of the shop. Suddenly, a violent gust of wind overthrew a
stack of chimneys, which in their descent brought down with them a large
portion of the roof, and a quantity of the brick-work of the front wall.
Neither of the gentlemen had warning sufficient to run out of danger. An
apparently solid mass fell upon the back and head of Mr. Stretton, but chiefly
upon his shoulders, beating him to the ground, and cutting the back of his
coat into shreds. He endeavored two or three times to get up, but the bricks
continually falling upon him, prevented him. Mr. Wood also received serious
injuries. They were taken away in sedan chairs, and both of them eventually
recovered, though not without great difficulty.”

Mr. Stretton appears to have retired
from business prior to the publication of the first Nottingham Directory in
1799, in which appears the name of Samuel Stretton, gentleman, of Pannier Row.
He died 11 May, and was buried at Lenton, 16 May 1811. M.I. In the Lenton
burial register he is described as of Nottingham, gentleman, aged 79 years,
but on his tombstone he is stated to have been 80 years of age.

He married, at Lenton, July 14th
1754, Elizabeth Wombwell, (the daughter of a wealthy yeoman resident in that
parish) who died February 22nd, aged 70 year’s, and was buried at Lenton 25
February, 1802. Ml.

Children:-

i. William Stretton, of whom next.

ii. Ann, bapt. at Lenton 24 April
1757, died 11 April 1820, bur. at Lenton. M.I. Mar. Samuel. Pinkney, who
predeceased her at Dublin. (Note 1.)

v. Samuel Stretton, bapt. at Lenton,
23 August. 1761. One of the executors of the will of his father.

vi. Sarah, bapt. at Lenton, 3 July
1763

2. WILLIAM STRETTON, eldest
child of Samuel Stretton, was baptized at Lenton, April 20th 1755. For many
years he carried on the business of an architect and builder in Nottingham, at
first in partnership with his father, and afterwards on his own account. He
appears in the first Nottingham Directory (1799) as a builder on the Long Row,
his father having then apparently retired from business. It will be seem in
the following notes (pages 162-3) that in 1811 and 1814 he refers to his stone
yard in Cow Lane, now known as Clumber Street. A list of some of the buildings
erected, and other works executed, by S. & W. Stretton down to the year 1798is given on pages 180-182 post. Mr. Stretton also rebuilt the
Exchange and restored St. Mary’s and St. Peter’s Churches, Nottingham, and his
own parish church at Lenton. Early in the last century he purchased that
portion of the Lenton Priory demesne close by the site of the Priory, and
built thereon a mansion, which he designated “Lenton Priory,” and which seems
to occupy pretty nearly the site of the Priors lodgings. This mansion is now
occupied by the Sisters of Nazareth who have greatly extended it. He took an
active part in the development of Standard Hill, a small extraparochial
district adjoining the western boundary of the Town of Nottingham, and built
three houses thereon between the years 1810 and 1814. On April 12th 1810 he
recorded his weight as being 11 stones 7 pounds.

Mr. Stretton had a taste in articles
of vertu, of which, at the time of his death, he possessed an extensive
museum, at all times open to the inspection of persons of a kindred taste.
Specimens of his coins, Nuremburg tokens, Seventeenth century Nottinghamshire
tokens, seals, monastic paving tiles, and other objects, are shown in the
engravings executed under his direction and reproduced in this volume. He also
possessed an oil painting of Dr. Charles Deering the historian of Nottingham,
and Smithson’s original plan of Nottingham Castle made in 1617, and still in
existence. For at least a quarter of a century prior to his decease, his
leisure time had been principally employed in the collection of materials
(previously referred to) for a work on the History and Antiquities of
Nottinghamshire. He made a series of excavations on the site of Lenton Priory,
with the view of ascertaining its ground plan, and “not only dug out seven
very fine specimens of the ancient pillars, to the height of a few feet above
their bases,” but was also “enabled nearly to trace out the ground plan of the
whole.’’ The notes on these excavations which, doubtless, were made at the
time, are unfortunately not to be found amongst Mr. Stretton’s papers. It
should also be mentioned that he disinterred on the same site a magnificent
Norman font which, it has been stated, “has not its peer in the country.” This
font stood for several years in Mr. Stretton’s garden, and was presented by
one of his sons, in 1842, to the new Church at Lenton. The registers of St.
Mary’s Church, Nottingham, show that he was Churchwarden for four successive
years, from Easter 1802 to Easter 1806. During his residence at Lenton Mr.
Stretton took an active interest in all public matters, and filled the several
parish offices in an efficient manner. He held the two offices of Overseer
0f the Poor and Surveyor of Highways in 1806 and was Churchwarden
in 1810 and 1811. In 1815 he was appointed one of the Overseers of
the Poor for Standard Hill.

Mr. Stretton states that he left
Lenton Priory, and went to reside on Standard Hill, near Nottingham, June
25th, 1854. He was residing there in 1816 when he had a family reunion as
recorded in the following note.

“1816. All the Family met on Standard
Hill. In number as follows

Mrs. Naylor, her Husband, & 6 Children

8

Sempronius, from France

1

William, from Ireland

1

Mrs. Roe, her husband & 5 Children

7

Mrs. Cursham her husband & 3 children

5

Children & Grandchildren

22

Servants & Nurses

8

My own Family

30

Self—Mrs. Lynam—1 Man & 2 Maids

5

35

In August 1817 he visited Paris and
Rouen, going by Dover and Calais, and returning by Dieppe and Brighton. He
later returned to Lenton Priory, where he died March 12th, 1828, aged 72
years, and was interred in the churchyard at Lenton on the 18th of the same
month. M.I. His death is thus announced in the Nottingham Journal:- “On
Wednesday, the 12th inst, in the 73 rd year of his age, after a
long and painful affliction, sustained with true Christian fortitude and
resignation, William Stretton, Esq., of Lenton Priory. Words would but faintly
convey the deep grief which his irreparable loss has occasioned to those who
knew his worth. In him antiquarians have lost a fund of general and useful
knowledge, and the poor a warm and benevolent friend.”

Mr. Stretton married at Eakring,
Notts., by license, in the presence of Samuel Pinkney and T. Lynam, 22 June
1778, Susanna ( baptized at Eakring, 28 August1757, died 7 December 1815,
Buried at Lenton ) daughter of William Lynam, of Eakring, by whom he had
issue:-

i. Stella, bapt. at St. Mary’s,
Nottingham, 28 October 1779, mar. at Lenton, 10 November 1803, to Thomas
Naylor, of Mansfield, Notts. who died at Standard Hill, Notts. 5 November
1818, aged 48, and was buried at Lenton. M.I. In 1816 they had six chil­dren
living, one of their grandchildren, the Rev. H. Stretton Naylor, being now
(1910) Vicar of Horsley Woodhouse, co. Derby. Mrs. Naylor died at Lenton, 18
September 1863, and was buried there. M.I.

ii. Sempronius Stretton, of whom
next.

iii. Severus Stretton, born 7
November, bapt. at St. Mary’s, Nottingham, 14 November 1783, being entered in
the Register as Servius. Died 19 December 1785, bur. at Lenton. M.I.

iv. Salcia, bapt. at St. Mary’s,
Nottingham. 16 December 1784, mar. there, 24 August 1803, to MARTIN ROE, of
Nottingham, and had five children living in 1816.

v. Sabina, bapt. at St. Mary’s,
Nottingham, 25 July, 1787, mar. to – CURSHAM, and had three children living in
1816.

vi, Severus William Lynam Stretton,
of whom presently.

It will be observed that each of Mr.
Stretton’s children possessed an uncommon Christian name commencing
with the letter S. There are errors in the entries of the baptisms of each of
his sons, a fact which does not speak well for the accuracy of St. Mary’s
registers at that period when about 800 baptisms were recorded annually.

It may be mentioned that Mr. Stretton
is styled “Esquire” in the Nottingham Directory for 1815, in his obituary
notice, on his tombstone, in the foregoing note written by his son, and
elsewhere. He and his family bore these arms—Argent, a
bend engrailed sable, plain cotised gules.

III. SEMPRONIUS STRETTON, eldest son
of William Stretton, was born at Nottingham 15 May, and baptized at St. Mary’s
Church 24 May, 1781. In the parish register he is erroneously described as
the son of William and Sarah Stretton. He entered the army at an early age,
commencing his military career in the Nottinghamshire Militia, which he joined
at Dumfries, in April 1800. In the following November, he entered the 6th
Regiment of Foot as an ensign, joining the depot of that regiment at Chatham.
In April 1801, he was promoted to a lieutenancy in the 49th
Regiment, and shortly afterwards sailed with it to Quebec. In this regiment,
Lieutenant Stretton served under Colonel Brock, who generally selected him, to
act as his aide-de-camp in his visits to the upper country to distribute
presents, or meet the Indian Chiefs in council. Having been promoted to a
company in the 40th Regiment, he returned to England, and was
employed for some time in the recruiting service. In 1812, Captain Stretton
sailed for Lisbon, where he met his brother, then an ensign in the 68th Light
Infantry and the two brothers proceeded to join the army under Lord
Wellington. Captain Stretton’s first engagement with the enemy was at the
battle of Vittoria, 21 June 1813. The regiment afterwards took an active part
in the investment of Pampeluna, and the numerous brilliant actions during the
passage of the Pyrenees; and on 28 July 1813, Captain Stretton received the
thanks of Lord Wellington, conveyed to him through H.R.H. the Prince of
Orange, for the gallant defence made by the 40th, under his command, supported
by two Portu­guese regiments, in defending the key of the position on the
heights before Pampeluna, against an overwhelming force of the enemy. For this
service Captain Stretton was awarded the gold medal, and received the brevet
rank of major. He was present in the numerous actions with the enemy which
terminated in the battle of Toulouse, 10 April 1814, and the abdication of
Napoleon. When the army was withdrawn from France, he accompanied the 40th in
the expedition to New Orleans in 1814, and narrowly escaped with his life when
shipwrecked, with part of his corps, in he Baring transport, in Bantry Bay, on
the 10th October, on which occasion all the baggage was lost, and many
soldiers drowned. Having returned to Cork, Major Stretton again sailed, in the
Wellington
transport, and arrived in the Mississippi 9 January 1815. The disastrous
results of that unfortunate expedition are too well known to require
recapitulation here. The troops returned to Portsmouth, and the 40th, with
other regiments, proceeded to Flanders, and joined the army assembled near
Brussels, in time to share in the memorable victory of Waterloo. On the
arrival of the Allies in Paris, the Duke of Wellington, in acknowledgment of
Major Stretton’s services, appointed him commandant of the 15th Arondissement
of that city, which post he held for a considerable time. Some of Major
Stretton’s movements are thus chronicled by his father “Major Sempronius
Stretton arrived at Nottingham from France (blank). Returned for
France Fr(iday) Aug. 8. 1816. Sempronius Lieutenant-Colonel June 21/17 for
Special Services. Sempronius went from Glasgow to London Oct. 26/17 and from
thence for Paris Nov. 21/17- returned to Nottingham in July 1818, then to
Glasgow.” He also obtained, June 21st 1817, the brevet rank of
Lieutenant-Colonel for special services. When the British troops were
withdrawn from France, Lieutenant-Colonel Stretton, with his regiment, was
quartered successively in Scotland and Ireland. On the corps being ordered for
service in New South Wales, he retired on half-pay, and passed several years
in traveling on the Continent, returning occasionally to his residence at
Lenton. His military services obtained for him the rank of colonel, and the
Companionship of the Order of the Bath. He received the gold medal, as before
stated, for the battle of the Pyrenees, and the silver medal for Waterloo, but
died before the Peninsular medal was granted. Colonel Stretton had the good
fortune to escape being wounded in the various actions in which he was
engaged, (note 3.)
but he had one of his epaulettes shot away in the Pyrenees, and his charger
was wounded at Toulouse; he also had a horse killed at Waterloo. For many
years, Colonel Stretton was a much - honored guest at the annual banquet given
by the Duke of Wellington on the anniversary of the battle of Waterloo, and a
portrait of him is to he found in Salter’s celebrated painting of that scene.
Colonel Stretton was an able draughtsman, and during his services in Canada,
and travels on the Continent, made many valuable contributions to his father’s
extensive museum. He was twice married; first, 3 March 1821, to the Honorable
Catherine Jane Massey, elder daughter of General the Right Hon. Nathaniel
William, second Lord Clarina, who died four months after marriage. He married,
secondly, 14 October 1830, the Honorable Anne Handcock, (note
4.) youngest daughter of the second
Lord Castlemaine, but had no issue by either of these ladies. Colonel
Stretton died at Croydon, February 6th, 1842, and was buried in
Bromley churchyard, in Kent, wherea plain monument marks his last
resting place.

SEVERUS WILLIAM LYNAM STRETTON,
youngest child of William Stretton, was baptized at Sr. Mary’s Church,
Nottingham, 29 May 1793, and is erroneously described in the register as the
son of Samuel and Susanna Stretton. Evincing an early desire for the
profession of arms, a commission was obtained for him in the Nottinghamshire
Militia which he joined at Plymouth in 1810, and accompanied the regiment to
Ireland. In 1812 he obtained an ensigncy in the 68th light Infantry, and
joined the regiment in Portugal, serving in the second Peninsular campaign of
1812-13. Having been severely wounded at the battle of Vittoria, 21 June 1813,
by two musket balls, lodged in the body, he was removed, in a very precarious
state, to England. Prior to this, one of the balls was extracted, but the
other, at different periods, was a source of great trouble and pain, relieved
only by severe surgical operations, until, after 56 years of lodgment, it was
successfully extracted in the year 1870. The excellent nursing and skilful
medical treatment he received, whilst at his father’s house at Lenton,
restored him so far that in the course 0f twelve months he was
enabled to rejoin his regiment, then stationed in Ireland. Some of Lieutenant
Stretton’s movements are thus noted by his father—“Lieut. Will. Stretton
arrived at Nottingham from Castlebar, Ireland [blank] Returned to
Castlebar Th. Aug. 14, 1816. William came home from Dublin November 1, 1817.
William sailed for Canada in May 1818.” He accompanied the same regiment to
Canada in 1818, and in 1825 was promoted to an unattached company, shortly
after which he exchanged to the 64th regiment, and joined it at Gibraltar. He
was promoted major in 1832. He succeeded to the lieutenant-colonelcy and
command of this regiment in 1842, having accompanied it to the West Indies and
Nova Scotia, from whence he returned with it in 1843. He had, in the meantime,
inherited the Lenton property from his brother, but never resided there.
Lieutenant-Colonel Stretton, in 1848, exchanged to his brother’s old regiment,
the 40th, of which he retained the command until June, 1852. He was awarded
the Peninsular medal and clasp and was also in receipt of a pension for
wounds. About the year 1848, Colonel Stretton gave to Sir Henry Dryden,
Baronet, Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire, a large earthenware jug, fourteen
encaustic tiles, and a small piece of carved masonry, found on the site of
Lenton Priory (note
5). The gallant officer retired in
1852 from active service, but was three years later appointed to the command
of the Hampshire Artillery Militia, which he held until 1868, when he retired
at the age of 75. In 1862 Colonel Stretton was appointed a Justice of the
Peace for the Borough of Southampton, and he took an active part in the
management of the Royal South Hants Infirmary, Southampton Dispensary and
other charitable institutions in the town.

He continued in his usual good health
until about three weeks prior to his death, which took place at Southampton 22
November 1884. Colonel Stretton married, 24 October 1851, the Hon. Catherine
Adela de Courcy, youngest daughter of the 28th Lord Kingsale, premier baron of
Ireland, who survived him with seven children, the eldest son being William,
de Courcy Stretton, then a lieutenant in the Royal Artillery.

Monumental Inscriptions.

Near the gateway at the south-western
corner of Old Lenton churchyard is a large monument in the form of a
sarcophagus, bearing the following inscriptions on slabs of black marble :-

“Sacred to the memory of William
Stretton, Esq., late of Lenton Priory, who departed this life March 12, 1828,
age 72 years.”

“Here lieth entombed, Susanna, wife
of William Stretton, a pattern of piety and virtue, who having borne the rod
of affliction near 20 years with almost unexampled fortitude, resigned her
soul to God who gave it Dec. 7, 1815, aged 58 years; leaving to the world this
memento: ‘Tho’ afflicted, not forsaken. Reader! if thou hast never yet
considered the state of thy immortal soul, or that but briefly, go home and
examine thyself, the present moment to thee is invaluable. But if thou be a
true follower of Jesus Christ, lift up thy heart with praise and thanksgiving
to thy Blessed Lord and Savior, and pray Him to keep thee in the true faith.
For what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own
soul, or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?’”

“In memory ofColonel
Sempronius Stretton, C. B., late of the 40th Regiment, who died at Croydon,
February 6, 1842, aged 59 years, and was buried at Bromley, in Kent. His
distinguished services in the Peninsula, and at the memorable battle of
Waterloo, were rewarded with several honorary decorations, and he was also
made a Companion of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath. 0 God, my Lord, the
strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
Glory be to thee, 0 Lord.”

“In memory of Thomas Naylor, of
Standard Hill, who died November 5, 1818, aged 48 years Also, Stella, his
wife, who died at Lenton, September 18, 1863, aged 82 years. She was a tender
and loving mother, and beloved most by those who knew her best. He, which
raised up the Lord Jesus, shall raise up us also by Jesus.”

“Sacred to the memory of Agnes
Stella, youngest daughter of the late Thomas and Stella Naylor, of Standard
Hill, Nottingham, who departed this life in the year of our Lord, 1866, in
the 49th year of her age.”

Near to is a plain headstone
inscribed:-

“Severus, son of W. & S. Stretton,
Born November 7th 1783. Died December 19th 1785.”

“When ye Arch Angel’s Trump shall sound,

And Souls to Bodies join,

What Crowds will wish their Lives below,

Had been as short as Thine.”

Other memorials adjoining record the
burials of the following members of the Stretton family:- Elizabeth, wife of
Samuel Stretton, died February 22nd, 1802, aged 70 years; Samuel Stretton,
died May 11th, 1811, aged 80; Ann, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth
Stretton, and relict of Samuel Pinkney, of Dublin, died April 11th, 1820, aged
63 years. Also, Samuel Bilby, son of George and Mary Stretton, died March 4th,
1805, aged —months; George Burbage Stretton, died March 6th, 1817, aged 17
years; Elizabeth Stretton, died July 6th. 1828, aged 26 years; and George
Stretton, died December 7th, 1833, aged 62 years.

In Old Lenton Church is a plain
tablet of white marble inscribed:-

Sacred

to the memory of

George Stretton,

late of Nottingham,

Died December VIIth, MDCCCXXXIII,
aged LXII years.

Also one son and one daughter.

George Burbage Stretton,

died March VIth, MDCCCXVII, aged
XVII years.

Elizabeth Stretton

died July VIth, MDCCCXXVIII, aged
XXVI years.

The above George Stretton was a
printer on the Long Row, Nottingham, in partnership with George Burbage. Who
was for 3o years proprietor of the Nottingham Journal, and
who died 6 December 1807, aged 80 years. He married, at St. Mary’s Church,
Nottingham, 6 February 1792, when twenty-one years of age, Mary Burbage, a
daughter of his future partner, to whom he may have been apprenticed. In 1799
he occurs as an ensign in the Nottingham Volunteer Infantry. He succeeded his
partner as pro­prietor of the Nottingham Journal from 1807 to 1832,
when he retired from business. The relationship between George Stretton and
William Stretton the antiquary has not been ascertained, but that some
relationship existed appears probable, as the former appears to be identical
with the George Stretton who, on page 188 post, is mentioned as one of
the executors of Samuel Stretton who died in 1811. In fact it is both possible
and probable that he may have been a son of the latter.

John T. Godfrey

Nottingham.

November, 1910.

(Note 1.)
John Girton Wilcockson, of Nottingham, apothecary (died 16 June 1847, aged 69)
mar. Lucy. dau. of Samuel Pinkney, of Nottingham, by Ann, his wife. She was
baptized at St. Mary’s, Nottingham, 2 October 1778, and died 29 May 1860,
leaving issue.

(note 2.)The marriage took place, by licence, at St.
Mary’s Church, Nottingham, 31 March 1778, of George Dodson and Elizabeth
Stretton, but we have no evidence that the bride was identical with the above
Elizabeth Stretton.

(Note 3.) The verse
adapted from the 140th Psalm, engraved upon the cenotaph in the old
churchyard at Lenton (vide post) was evidently chosen in allusion to this.

(Note 4.) This lady
(who died 1 March1878) married secondly, in 1846, Colonel St. John-Gore
Browne, R.A., who died 1861.

(Note 5.)
These articles were presented by Sir Henry Dryden to the Corporation of
Nottingham, in the year 1881, and are now preserved in the Castle Museum.